The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JUNE 15, 1906. WESTLAND SEAT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1784, 15 June 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JUNE 15, 1906. WESTLAND SEAT.

A hai'Bh reminder of the workaday spirit of tho world oomes with the death of ooe of the greateet of workers. People did

not have time to recover from the shock of the suddenness of the death ere sentiment was oast aside and an intense eagerness evinoed to know what changes the death will bring aboot in the adjustment of politioal affairs. While the West Coast is “ depressed with the greatest grief,” as well we might imagine it to be, there is talk in the same breath almost of candidates to fill tbe vaoaooy. Surely the remains of tho revered statesman might have been given interment in their last earthly resting-place before the minds of the people be served so well- are dietraoted

by the claims of tival candidates. We are told that " there is a stead ly growing feel-

ing throughout the electorate that when the time oomeß to fill the vaeancy, Mr Seddon’s eldest son should be asked to take the 'position, and so retain the honored name cf Seddon io the House of Reprosj ntativos.” It does tbe people’s kiefiaess of heart credit to thiok of the boo in this way, aod other thiDgs being equal the suggestion's a good one. But the mere fact of being Mr geddon’s son should cer-

tainly not be d:emed sufficient (jualifioatioD, end it would be placiog the younger Seddon in' qui r e a false position to ask him to accept the office of member for the constituency on that ground alone. A man with snoh an able father and such a splendid mother should be able lo fight bis own way to the front if he has the ability and inclination in that direction, and if he lacks these would it not be wiser to prevent snoh a contrast being made ?—a contrast that might not throw lustre on the memory of the dead, whioh might even discredit the character of the living, and oreate dissatisfaction in the constituency. There are few, if any, in Australasia who cau claim to possess the qualifications that gave the deceased statesman such a high place in contemporaneous history, nor would the S3me ability be locked for in tbe son setting out practically as a novice in politics; but much would be expected of the latter, and it would be better for himself and all others that he should rely on his own ability and only depend on tbo name of his lamented father to the extent of it being a highly valued testimochl. The people throughout the colony would, we believe, warmly welcome one of the lats Premier’s, sons in the politioal arena on his own merits, and it is to Mr Tom Seddon that we look for any advance in this dircc ion. , i